2025 Open de Espana preview and betting tips

Odds Now's golf tipster Ross Kilvington returns with his latest exclusive event betting preview – this week focusing on the DP World Tour's Open de Espana.

After torrential rain and gale force winds in Scotland, the DP World Tour heads to Madrid this week for the Open de Espana.

The tournament is the national golf championship of Spain and was founded in 1912. Since 1972, the Open de Espana has been part of the European Tour schedule and it has been contested every year since apart from 2017 and 2020.

The Club de Campo Villa de Madrid hosts the event once again, having done so for the previous five editions. The course itself sits 2,500 feet above sea level and with sloping fairways, plenty of trees and greens surrounded by bunkers, it can be a tricky test.

Despite this, Club de Campo Villa de Madrid measures just 7154 yards. If the conditions are right, some low scores can be recorded. Jon Rahm shot a 62 in the final round in 2022, for example.

With a roll call of winners including Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo, Sergio Garcia and Rahm, the tournament is certainly a prestigious one to win – particularly for the local hopefuls.

Five of the last six winners have hailed from Spain and I am quietly confident this trend will continue in 2025.

Last week's Odds Now betting preview saw all three of our selections finish 21st or better at the Alfred Dunhill Links, but unfortunately, all three missed out on the place money – including Joakim Lagergren by just one stroke.

Nevertheless, we go again this week in search of more winners.

2025 Open de Espana betting tips

Selection #1 – David Puig – 20/1 (Sporting Index, 1/5 odds 6 places)

While Rahm and fellow LIV Golfer Joaquin Niemann are the two favourites to win this event, I reckon backing David Puig for a homeland triumph at 20/1 represents some excellent value.

The Spaniard enjoyed a solid 2025 season on the Saudi-backed tour, securing three top-five finishes which culminated in him sealing 10th spot in the individual standings at the end of the season.

Puig also played three DPWT events in 2025. At the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, he finished third, before sealing a fourth place result a week later in Bahrain.

Even as recently as July, the 23-year-old finished T11 at the BMW International Open. In his two previous starts at this event, Puig has results of T3 and T34, showing that he certainly enjoys the course and the joy of playing in front of home fans.

Ranked fourth in driving distance on LIV this year, Puig will take advantage of the short course this week, while the youngster also ranked T11 for birdies and T5 for putting average.

Rahm is an understandable favourite, but Puig has every chance of bettering last year’s result here to my eye.

Selection #2 – Grant Forrest – 80/1 (Various, 1/5 odds 6 places)

Grant Forrest returned to some sort of form at the Dunhill Links last week, finishing in a tie for 11th after rounds of 65, 71 and 69 at the weather-affected tournament.

This came following missed cuts at the Open de France, BMW PGA, Irish Open and British Masters. Considering Forrest had claimed his second DPWT title at the Nexo Championship a week before that run made it all the more surprising.

Last week should give him a big mental boost, though – especially considering Forrest has a solid record at the Open de Espana.

Across five appearances, the Scot has finished third twice and secured results of T41, T50 and T61 since making his debut in 2019. Last year, Forrest finished with a sublime round of 64, moving him up to third and just four shots out of the playoff between Rahm and Angel Hidalgo.

Overall, the 32-year-old has shot nine rounds out of 20 in the 60s since his debut six years ago.

It looks as though he is trending in the right direction after three excellent displays in Scotland last week and 75/1 looks a generous price considering his stellar record here.

Selection #3 – Zander Lombard – 150/1 (PricedUp, 1/5 odds 6 places)

There is a reason why Zander Lombard is priced at 150/1 to one this week, but I’m willing to take a chance given his record at this event.

Lombard secured a T21 finish at the Dunhill Links last time out, marking his first top 25 result of 2025. Furthermore, the South African has played the Open de Espana five times in his career, missing just one cut. This came in back in 2018.

Three years ago, he finished T4 after four rounds in the 60s. No-one was catching Rahm that week, but Lombard finished just three shots behind the runner-up.

He went close again in 2023, finishing second behind Matthieu Pavon. Lombard shot 65 and 64 over the weekend, but it wasa 70 on Friday which eventually cost him the title.

These previous two performances will ensure he returns to Madrid with a point to prove. He did struggle with injury earlier this year, but throughout 2024, Lombard ranked 17th for driving distance on the DPWT and sixth for average putts per round.

If he can string four solid rounds together, there is every chance he can finally claim his maiden tour title in Madrid this week.

Ross Kilvington's best bets for the 2025 Open de Espana

1.5pts EW - David Puig - 20/1 (Sporting Index)

0.75pts EW - Grant Forrest - 80/1 (various)

0.5pts EW - Zander Lombard - 150/1 (PricedUp)

Total staked - 5.5pts

All prices correct as of 07/10/25 at 2pm. All place terms are 1/5 odds, 6 places.